Who decides which way to interpret the Bible?

Answer 1

You do. The bible is meant to be a library. The Holy spirit will guide you if you let it.

Answer 2

Dear purple,

God of course. The reason there are so many denominations and no one seems to agree on answers to such questions as, "Is water baptism required for salvation?" or "Can I pray a prayer and be saved?" or "Do I need to confess my sins to someone in order to be forgiven?" or "Can christians divorce and remarry?" or "Can a woman be a pastor?" or "Is the Old Testament written for christians?"

God gives a stern warning in Galatians 1 that if anyone preaches any other gospel than the Gospel of Jesus Christ let him be accursed.

Here are the rules by which one interprets the Bible:

1. Christ spoke in parables (Mark 4:33, 34).
2. We are to compare Spiritual things with Spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:13).
3. The whole Bible is the word of God and we learn a little here and a little there (Isaiah 28:9-13).
4. God Almighty is the author of the Bible. Therefore, we must humbly ask Him for understanding and wisdom when we study the Bible. God resisteth the proud.

Bible study takes much time. If we think we have come to truth, that "truth" cannot contradict anything else in the Bible. If we find that our work contradicts something else in the Bible then we have not found truth.

See sources below.

Answer 3

Like almost any book, The Bible explains itself. Any passage of any book can most often be understood by looking at the context of the passage.

Also, what do other parts of the book say? Written by the same author, other passages would be in agreement. It is so with the Bible.

That takes you through most of the Bible. For the deeper things, the holy spirit or power of God allows seeing things gradually open up. It must be a gradual thing, and an open mind must be kept open. What we might think is certain a year, might be different in a few years down the road. We must be willing to change.

A weight-lifter doesn't start with 500 lbs. He must build up to it each time or injury would result. That is also why we cannot have instant knowledge of all the Bible.

Answer 4

I think what you're asking about is Biblical hermeneutics.
If you really want to know how to interpret the Bible, ask the inspirer for all of the authors. God is quite logical, it doesn't take a lot to interpret God's word. The King of Heaven is a simple God (not simpleminded). The most important part of the bible for Christians is the stuff that is sometimes in a red font color. I'm not saying go to some church and ask them...they'll usually tell you some madness. They tend to seem not to use simple logic, They don't talk about the Kingdom of God being as a Government.
The churches only speak of it as part of their Religion, whereas Jesus spoke of a Kingdom as a Government - and no head of the Kingdom of God remains upon Earth (no single representative, multiple ambassadors, but no single representative).

For instance, A Pharisee was a religious leader of the Jewish Church...the Jewish Religion, which Jesus fought against.
Jesus spoke against them in the same way like he would speak about those folks that wish for you to have a convoluted way in how to interpret the bible:

Matthew 23:13
"But WOE unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."

Real simple, Jesus didn't appreciate religious Jews.
It's ironic that most Christians are more about their religion than they are about Jesus.

Answer 5

Bible scholars can help but ultimately, it's up to you how you interpret it. It's never exactly the same as the original Aramaic version anyway, because things often get lost or misinterpreted in language translation. If it mentions something several times though, it's probably not a misinterpretation.

Answer 6

Well, there are many scriptures in the bible that are prone to slightly different interpretations by different people, but on the whole, there is a general idea for the interpretation. Priests/pastors who have done in-depth study of scripture may be able to give you some guidance as to the general interpretations. It's also helpful to know that some bible scriptures should NOT be taken literally, which is why it is dangerous to say that the bible should be interpreted however you want to. If all scripture was taken literally, many, many people could wind up injured, or even killed. For example:
“If your hand should cause you to sin cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go to hell…if your foot should cause you to sin cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell…if you eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell…”

Mark 9: 43. - a perfect example of a scripture that is NOT meant to be taken literally.

Answer 7

Why must we interpret the Bible, either it is true and means what it says or it is a crock, whats to interpret

Answer 8

Unfortunately, every Protestant denomination does, which is why there are so many conflicting denominations. If you measn who is authorized to decide, that would be the one Church Christ founded for all mankind; the only Church Christ ever intended to exist; the Church the Bible calls "the pillar and foundation of truth"; the Church which has existed in unity for 2,000 years without fragmenting into denominations, just as Christ said it would; the Church to which Christ said "whatsoever you bind upon earth is bound in heaven"; the Church to which Christ said "the Holy Spirit will guide you to all truth; the Church to which Christ said "he who hears you hears Me"; the Church to which the Bible was given, along with complete authority to interpret it and teach it; the Holy Catholic Church.

Answer 9

Reading the bible , comparing scripture with scripture , Taking the word literally , you can't pick and choose what you want to believe in. The scripture on Mark 9:43 is Stop the sinning by controlling your actions

Answer 10

how you interpret the bible is different for every person. there's not a right or wrong way.

Answer 11

The Holy Spirit who abides in Christians interprets and speaks the words of God into life eternal.